By: Johannes Jafo Akunatu [0247019099; akjafo@gmail.com]
Political parties are not sustained by noise or last-minute enthusiasm. They are built and maintained by people who stay, work, and sacrifice when conditions are tough and victories are uncertain. The National Democratic Congress, otherwise, has survived and remained competitive in the Damongo Constituency because of individuals who have rendered years of uninterrupted service at the grassroot level. Among them stand two individuals whose contributions are difficult to ignore. Iddrissu Mohammed, popularly known as Astro, and Hon. Mohammed Yakubu, widely known as Yacsion.
Ambition is not their motivational interests to serve the party. The are based on years of dedication and self-sacrifice to the party.
Iddrissu Mohammed, is not a stranger in the NDC inner circles of Damongo. Being the current Secretary of the Police Station Polling Station, he works at one of the most important stages of the party organization. It is at the polling stations that elections are defended and won, strength of the party is tested, and discipline is most important. The level of work done by Astro has assisted in keeping the party alive, coordinated and most importantly alert during elections, and even when elections are not taking place.
In addition to the official responsibility, Astro has always contributed towards party activities in the constituency using his personal resources. Through meetings to mobilization activities, his finances have been used to cover the gaps where there is a scarcity of resources. These were not done with cameras on him and it was not transactional. They were actions of loyalty to a party which he believes in.
The real strength of Astro is his strong attachment to the grassroots. He apprehends the full length of the Damongo Constituency because he has worked across it. He is aware of the branches, polling stations, and the concerns of party faithfuls at the lower level. This has gained him credibility and trust especially with the grassroots who identify him as one of them.
His leadership came out more clearly when he co-founded the United NDC Youth Group in the Damango Constituency where he holds a position of the Chairman. This initiative was timely when the youth structures were disorganized, and this initiative brought together different NDC youth groups under one coordinated platform. The outcome was a well organized and disciplined youth front. Recurring reports of national election data indicates that constituencies with established youth front are much more mobilized and have high voter turnout a fact that renders the input of Astro particularly important.
A proponent of the unity, Astro realizes the fact that internal unity is not a luxury. He is of the opinion that through experience, the NDC has a chance to regain the Damongo Parliamentary seat lost to the NPP since it heavily relies on discipline, unity of purpose, and leadership that honors all levels of the party.
Hon.Mohammed Yakubu whose contribution to the NDC in Damongo is grounded in organization, energy, and daily engagement with party members. His intention to contest for the position of Organizer comes with years of groundwork, not sudden interest.
Yacsion is also a Co-founder of the United NDC Youth Group and the commander of a pro NDC vigilante group, Escort 24. Through this platform, he played a key role in mobilizing young party activists, coordinating activities across communities, and sustaining party engagement beyond election seasons. He and his Escort 24 vigilante group have sacrificed their lives in securing ballots during elections. The trend of local electoral practices in Ghana indicates that constituencies that were regained by the NDC in the previous elections had active organizers that re-established the branch systems, continued with activities and made sure that the party was represented in all communities.
Yacsion realizes that the work of the Organizer is the driving force of the party. It is not limited to meetings and information dessermination. The organizer needs to be on the ground all the time, listening to members, imposing discipline, and purposefully mobilizing. This realization is manifested in his work. He is available, visible and in touch with the bottom of the party.
His leadership approach is a generation of loyalty, hard work and accountability. He is well aware of the truths of party members in the grass root level since he has been working with them. This relationship has assisted in bridging the divide between the youth and the party leadership to enhance communication and trust.
It is not only on shared platforms or youth activism that Astro and Yacsion have a connection. It is collective service. Both of them have served their penance. Both have dedicated time, effort, and resources and both of them know that winning the Damongo seat back in the hands of the NPP will not be easy with merely lip-reading. It will involve strong structures, discipline mobilization, and leaders who know the work because they have done it.
Across Ghana, the NDC’s strongest constituencies are led by people who emerged from the grassroots and remained connected to them. Damongo Constituency warrants such kind of leadership. It requires strong hands, profound experience and people whose loyalty has been proven.
Astro has done the work. Yacsion has done the work. Their efforts can be seen, quantified and based in true service to the party. They should be given an opportunity to lead the NDC Damongo Constituency in their capacities.
As the NDC prepares for it’s internal elections and the larger task of winning back Damongo, the choice before party members is clear. The future is in the hands of those who stayed, organized, and sacrificed when it mattered most.
